Teaching Your Child Subtraction: Effective Methods for Success

Subtraction is a fundamental skill in mathematics, and understanding it well is crucial for building a strong foundation in arithmetic. This guide will explore various methods for teaching your child how to subtract, from practical drawings and objects to more advanced conceptualization. By providing a comprehensive approach, we can ensure that your child not only learns but enjoys the process of mastering subtraction.

Method 1: Teaching Subtraction with Drawings or Objects

This method involves visual and hands-on learning, making it particularly effective for young children.

Step 1: Presenting a Subtraction Word Problem

Write or recite a subtraction word problem. It's best to provide a copy on a worksheet so children can refer back to the problem. For example:

Problem: There are 8 oranges on the table. Jordan ate 3 oranges. How many oranges are left?

Step 2: Explaining the Problem with a Drawing

Draw 8 orange circles on a board or paper. Label each one. Cross out or erase 3 of the circles to represent Jordan eating 3 oranges. Ask, 'How many oranges are left?' This visual representation helps children understand the concept of 'taking away'.

Step 3: Explaining the Problem with Objects

Place 8 oranges on a table and ask children to count. Remove 3 oranges while explaining the same scenario. Count the remaining oranges. Use different objects like crayons for varied practice.

Step 4: Writing a Number Sentence

Introduce the concept of representing the problem with a number sentence. For example:

Ask how many oranges are on the table: Write 8 Ask how many oranges Jordan ate: Write 3 Ask if it's an addition or subtraction problem: Write 8 - 3 ? Prompt for the solution

Method 2: Teaching Count-Back Subtraction with a Number Line

Using a number line helps in visualizing subtraction as a distance measurement.

Step 1: Presenting a Subtraction Word Problem

Write or recite a word problem suitable for this method. For example:

Problem: There are 10 dogs at the pet store. 6 of the dogs are adopted. How many dogs are left at the pet store?

Step 2: Using a Number Line to Solve the Problem

Draw a number line from 0 to 10. Place a marker on 10. Count back by the number of adopted dogs (6).

Step 3: Writing a Number Sentence

Write the number sentence to represent the problem, guiding children through the process.

Method 3: Teaching Subtraction with Fact Families

Fact families help in understanding the relationship between numbers in addition and subtraction.

Step 1: Introducing the Concept of Fact Families

A fact family consists of three numbers that can be used to make two addition and two subtraction sentences. For example:

Numbers: 10, 3, 7 Sentences: 10 - 3 7 10 - 7 3 3 7 10 7 3 10

Step 2: Presenting a Subtraction Word Problem

For example, if there are 7 candies and 3 are eaten, how many are left?

Step 3: Using a Fact Family to Solve the Problem

Guiding children through the fact family process, ask which member is missing and solve the equation.

Method 4: Teaching Common Core Subtraction

The Common Core views subtraction as determining the distance between two points on a number line.

Step 1: Presenting the Common Core Concept

Draw a number line from 0 to 10 and highlight the steps for solving a basic subtraction problem like 9 - 4 .

Step 2: Solving a Two-Digit Subtraction Problem

For a problem like 73 - 31, take steps between points and add the distances. Explain each step:

Step 3: Solving a Three-Digit Subtraction Problem

For a problem like 815 - 398, take extra steps and add larger distances:

In summary, these methods make learning subtraction enjoyable and comprehensible. By adapting to different learning styles, children can grasp the concept effectively and build a strong foundation in mathematics.